Rights group: Boko Haram killed 1,000 civilians this year

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A leading human rights group says Nigeria-based Boko Haram has killed more than 1,000 civilians this year and forced hundreds of abducted girls and women to convert to Islam and marry fighters.

Human Rights Watch says people are desperate despite recent successes of a multinational offensive that has seized back dozens of towns from the Islamic extremists.

The New York-based group also charges Nigerian security forces torched a village and killed at least five civilians.

A report issued Thursday, based on accounts from witnesses and media, says Nigeria’s government is not doing enough to protect its civilians.

Nigeria is preparing for critical presidential elections Saturday that Boko Haram is threatening to disrupt because it opposes democracy.